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Overwatch League cancels China homestands due to coronavirus outbreak

A worker checks the temperature of courier in an Express station on Wednesday in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China. The 2019 coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China, has killed more than 170 people and infected more than 7,700, according to Reuters. Photo by Getty Images

The Overwatch League announced Wednesday that February and March homestands scheduled to take place in China have been cancelled in order to protect the health and safety of fans in light of the coronavirus that has been affecting the country.

Homestands that were scheduled to take place in China during the next two months include Shanghai on Feb. 15-16; Guangzhou on Feb. 22-23; Hangzhou on Feb. 29-March 1; Guangzhou on March 14-15; and Guangzhou on March 21-22.

The Chengdu Hunters said earlier Wednesday that they would continue training in China while taking extra precautions. Shanghai and Guangzhou announced earlier in the week that they were moving their preseason training to South Korea.

The coronavirus outbreak has affected other esports leagues in the country as well. China-based League of Legends Pro League announced that it was postponing play indefinitely.

The Overwatch League begins its third season in Dallas and New York on Feb. 8-9.

As of Wednesday, the coronavirus has killed more than 170 people and infected more than 7,700 in China, according to Reuters. People in at least 15 other countries have also reported infections.